Guest Post: Daynight Tour

On Tour with Prism Book Tours...

It's time to leave Earth and cross over to the other side... it's not as far away as you think!!

Guest Post: Escapism Part 1 of 2 - See Part 2 at Candace's Book Blog

Escapism: an inclination to retreat from unpleasant realities through diversion or fantasy.

Sometimes I feel like I’m in school working towards my Masters in Escapism. Last year was a very stressful year full of unfathomable drama. I read more than 600 books as a form of escape (and put together a world class weapons collection as a diversion, but let’s not dwell on that-which-embarrasses-some-of-my-kids-to-no-end).

The same concept can apply to characters within a book and indaynight Kira is Queen of Escapism.

Kira’s Escape to Thera

On the day Kira takes the SCI Recruit Test her boyfriend and friends are killed in a terrible explosion. After two months of mourning and therapy Kira decides she can’t take it any more and signs the dotted line of the SCI Recruit Contract. She wants to escape the memories and constant reminders of what she lost. Plus, she’s offered the opportunity to serve others in need of a second chance at life which will give her a sense of purpose. In return for her service, she’ll get a full ride college scholarship. The details are sketchy, but she’s promised that she’ll serve in a remote location far from home.

Is she over the tragedy? Absolutely not. But escaping is her way of coping. The pain and loss is too much for her. She’s hoping that “out of sight” will be “out of mind” before she loses her mind. Does this make her cold or human? Everyone copes with trials differently. All I can say is that while a person can delay dealing with their issues, they’ll still have to deal with them at some point and that point will definitely come for Kira. 

Megan Thomason lives in paradise aka San Diego, CA with her husband and five children. A former software manager, Megan vastly prefers writing twisted tales to business, product, and marketing plans. When she isn't typing away on her laptop, she's reading books on her phone—over 600 in the last year—or attending to the needs of her family. Megan’s fluent in sarcasm, could potentially benefit from a 12-step program for road rage, struggles with a Hot Tamales addiction, loves world travel & fast cars and hates paperwork & being an insomniac. Daynight is Megan's first published novel, but fourth written one.

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daynight
by Megan Thomason
Paperback, 324 pages
Published November 26th 2012 by Creatspace

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Earth’s benevolent non-profit by day, Thera’s totalitarian regime by night. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance™. Reality: the SCI subjects Second Chancers to strict controls and politically motivated science experiments like Cleaving—forced lifetime union between two people who have sex. Punishment for disobeying SCI edicts? Immediate Exile or death.

Meet Kira Donovan. Fiercely loyal, overly optimistic, and ensnared by the promise of a full-ride college scholarship, Kira signs the SCI Recruit contract to escape memories of a tragedy that left her boyfriend and friends dead.

Meet Blake Sundry. Bitter about being raised in Exile and his mother’s death, Blake’s been trained to infiltrate and destroy the SCI. Current barrier to success? His Recruit partner—Miss Goody Two Shoes Kira Donovan.

Meet Ethan Darcton. Born with a defective heart and resulting inferiority complex, Ethan’s forced to do his SCI elite family’s bidding. Cleave-worthy Kira Donovan catches his eye, but the presiding powers give defect-free Blake Sundry first dibs.

Introducing...  the new Novella:  FREE for the Tour!
On Smashwords!

clean slate complex
by Megan Thomason

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Worldwide non-profit and do-gooder organization. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance at Life(TM). Reality: hidden behind every kind act is a dark agenda designed to gain control and force societal and moral extremes. Currently, the SCI’s pushing Project Liberate, a program to woo the poor and downtrodden into their Clean Slate Complexes—where “everything is provided” from jobs to food, shelter, clothing, and education. Unfortunately, as with all things that sound too good to be true, there’s a catch…

Meet Alexa Knight. Feisty, tough and currently homeless in Los Angeles, Alexa agrees to help the SCI in return for medical care for her sick mother. When she starts to suspect there’s more to the SCI than meets the eye will she believe Adam—the boy who saved her life and the SCI’s biggest champion, or Joshua—the attractive enigma who sings about conspiracy theories and pretends to be someone he’s not?

Full of action, humor, romance, twists and turns, clean slate complex is a companion story to the highly-praised dystopian novel, daynight. It can be enjoyed before or after readingdaynight.

LINK: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CFQY0JY

daynight Second Chances Giveaway:

Choose what you enter to win wisely. Your stay on Thera may be extended indefinitely.

Highlighting a different giveaway every daynight of the Tour... International Winners will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate and US Winners may choose $25 GC in lieu of Prize Package.

US only. International winners will receive $25 Amazon gift certificate. US winners can opt to receive $25 Amazon gift certificate in lieu of any prize package.Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Megan Thomason. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Become an SCI Recruit
The Second Chance Institute (daynight's Dystopia)

April   22 - Launch!
                - My Seryniti - Review
                - Little Library Muse
           23 - Tressa's Wishful Endings
                - Buckeye Girl Reads - Teaser
                - Marked by Books - Review
                - Red Headed Bookworm

Welcome to Thera!
Building Thera

           24 - Coffee Books and Me
                  Stressed Rach
                  Snuggling on the Sofa - Review
           25 - Christy's Cozy Corner - Teaser
                - All Fantasy Words - Review

Kira * Blake * Ethan
Character Backgrounds & Posters

           26 - Susie Q-Pons and Giveaways - Review
                - My Passion for Books - Review; Ethan
                - Paranormal opinion - Blake
                - The Cozy Reading Corner - Kira
                - Book, Books, the Magical Fruit - Teaser
                - Bookaroo-Ju - Teaser
           27 - Bookworm Lisa - The Characters
                - Getting Your Read On - Review

Cleaving
daynight's Controversy of "Cleaving"

           28 - Fantastical World of Wonders - Review
                - Pause Time
                - A Backwards Story
                - Beck Valley Books
           29 - I Am a Reader, Not a Writer - Teaser
                - Books Mystify - Review
                - Mel's Shelves - Review

Vacation on Earth!
Escapism

           30 - The Broke Book Bank - Review

                - Letters to the Cosmos - Review

                - Arianne Cruz 

                - Candace's Book Blog

May      1 - Life of a YA Girl - Review

                - Fuonlyknew - Teaser

                - Jack's Junk Drawer - Review

Risking Exile
Dystopian Survival 101

             2 - A Tiffyfit's Reading Corner - Review
                - Lovin' Los Libros - Review
                - Paulette's Papers
                - Becky's Barmy Book Blog 
             3 - Backing Books - Teaser
                - Book Snob - Review
             4 - Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
                - Living a Goddess Life - Review; Recipe

Clean Slate Complex

             5 - Mortality Bites
                - The Book Eater
                - Deco My Heart - Review
             6 - Passion and Life - Teaser
                - The Reading Diaries - Review
             7 - Grand Finale Blast!!

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Promo: Silencing Breath by Joanne Brothwell

Please welcome Joanne Brothwell and her new release! Do you like the cover like I do? :)

Title: Silencing Breath
Series: Stealing Breath, #2
Author: Joanne Brothwell
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Release Date: March 15, 2013
Pages: 278
Buy Link: Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Paperback)

Blurb:

Just as Sarah Ross is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an Indigo Child and settling into a normal life with her beloved Evan, her entire world shatters when Evan disappears without a trace.

Desperate to find him, Sarah’s search leads her to a sadistic serial killer who confirms her worst fears are true; Evan has been kidnapped, and he is once again in the clutches of his abusive family of necromancers.

Sarah uncovers not only Evan's dark past he tried so desperately to protect her from, but also The Key of Solomon, an ancient text for summoning the dead.

Knowing her abilities are limited in the face of this ancient power, Sarah is forced to face the Malandanti in order to save him. However, one question remains: once he is found, will Evan be the same man she fell in love with?

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Promo: The Billionaire's Princess by Christina Tetreault

Title: The Billionaire's Princess
Series: The Sherbrookes of Newport, #3
Author: Christina Tetreault
Release Date: March 30, 2013
Pages: 318

Blurb:

She was raised as an American Princess

Following the betrayal of a former lover, Sara Sherbrooke swore off relationships, too afraid she would be used again.  Instead she has devoted all her energy to succeeding in politics without relying on her family name.  That is until one night in Hawaii with her brother's best friend Christopher Hall.
                                                     
He is a self-made billionaire

Technological genius and CEO of Hall Technology, Christopher Hall first met Sara Sherbrooke when he and Jake Sherbrooke were college roommates.  While attending Jake's wedding in Hawaii, Christopher is reintroduced to Sara, a beauty who was once way out of his league.  But now as the most eligible bachelor in Silicon Valley, the only thing stopping Christopher from pursuing Sara is the thought of betraying his best friend.

As they work together to promote a new education initiative, neither can deny the attraction between them.  But will their growing romance be worth all of the consequences?

Excerpt:


"All set." Sara forced herself to smile despite the tightness in her chest. She couldn't explain it, but she felt as if each step up the stairs was taking her further away from her life as she knew it and closer to something else. Something new and unexpected.

Christopher took a step back so she could enter the plane. "Excellent. As soon as you're settled we can go."
Forty minutes into the flight, Sara ditched her jacket and reached for her cup of tea. Both she and Christopher had finished their breakfast and had gone straight to work. Or at least she tried to work. Her brain had other ideas. It wanted to focus on the man seated across from her. Once again Sara's eyes traveled back to Christopher, the man who visited her dreams every night. The man, who despite knowing it was a huge mistake, she wanted to get to know better.

Despite her inability to work, Christopher didn't suffer from the same fate. Since opening his laptop, he hadn't looked up once. A fact that actually annoyed her a little. Having a man ignore her wasn't something that ever happened.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Christopher looked up, his warm chocolate brown eyes locking on her face. Heat instantly scorched her cheeks. It was one thing to study someone but another to be caught doing it.

"Sorry, I haven't been very good company," he said, his eyes never leaving her face. "I'm almost done with this."

The soft leather felt cool against the back of her thighs as she shifted in her seat, causing her skirt to ride up her thigh. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

Christopher's eyes dropped down to the screen once again. She heard his fingers moving over the keyboard then he closed the laptop and his gaze once again settled on her face.

"All done. I'm all yours.”  His mouth curved into a wide smile.

Memories of their one night together exploded in her mind.  They hadn't spoken of it on the three occasions they'd seen each other yet she couldn't help but wonder if he ever thought about it. Too bad asking is out of the question.

"You should be careful who you say that to." She hoped a little teasing would help her think of him as a brother type rather than a lover. After all she joked with Jake all the time. "Say that to the wrong woman and you'll find yourself holding a pumice stone giving a pedicure."

Without warning he leaned forward and lifted her leg toward him. The feel of his hand on her bare calf sent shivers through her body.

"Since it looks like you had one recently, I guess I'm safe." He lifted his head from his inspection of her coral pink toenails. Slowly he put her foot back down to the floor and released it. But even after he moved his hand away she could feel it on her skin.

Author Bio:

I wrote my first story with characters similar to those in the Sweet Valley Twins books at the age of 10 on my grandmother's manual typewriter. As I got older my stories and characters became more mature. During my freshman year at UMass Dartmouth, I read my first romance novel and fell in love with the genre. I have been writing contemporary romance ever since.

Today I live with my husband, three beautiful daughters and two dogs in Massachusetts. Whenever I have a free moment you'll find me either reading a romance novel or working on my most current story

Author Links:

Website:  www.christinatetreault.com

facebook:  www.facebook.com/christinatetreaultauthor

twitter: @cgricci

Blog:  http://happilyeverafter-cgtetreault.blogspot.com/

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Fixer-Upper

Lately, I feel that I like someone, not anymore because I find the mystery fascinating, but because I want to "fix" them. I want to be the miracle potion that changes them into something "better." Lately, I find that I want to be the sun to people's gloomy days, and I want to be the smile on their otherwise miserable existence. That doesn't sound bad at first thought, but really, I want to change someone to fit my standard of a "content" person.

Has any of you ever felt this way? I've always wanted to help people; I've even gotten myself screwed over for doing so. Yet, here I am again, wanting to "help" another person become much more satisfied with the life they were given, or even just a bit more grateful. Mind you, I don't mean turn them into something religious and obnoxious. No. I just... I want to see a smile on their face. I want them to see life as I see it. Difficult but bearable because I choose to be positive about my surroundings. Life sucks sometimes, but someone's attitude would be the deciding factor of whether they would be leading a stable and satisfactory life, or a miserable, madly unstable existence.

Anyway, I just wanted to vent. Writing always did make me feel better :)

til next time!

~Arianne~

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Male Weakness

We all have a weakness, right? When we see someone we like, we start thinking, "What do I really like about this person?" It could be their looks, their personality, or all the quirks they have. Today, I decided to make a list of my weaknesses when it comes to men :)

Artist
I like a guy who is an artist. If he's a musician, an actor, or a writer, then he's got me hooked. What's even better? If a man has all of that in one package.

Tattoo
This one depends on the art itself. I don't like every tattoo I see. However, if a man's art intrigues me, then it's a weakness.

Silliness
A man who isn't afraid to be silly is a man after my own heart. Given I'm self-conscious myself, but a man who is confident and silly at the same time would be a compliment to my personality. If he can laugh and joke more often than be serious and cynical about life, then he's a winner.

Groomed
If it's obvious that a man takes time to groom himself, then I'm hooked. Whether it's his hair, his clothes, his facial hair, or his shoes: if I see that he put in the effort, then he's got my heart.

Confidence = Sex Appeal
A confident man is a sexy man. Enough said.

Fit
Hey, we're all a little bit shallow, right? If I can see that he takes care of himself, then that's a definite turn-on. We've got to have some kind of eye candy once in a while ;)

Philanthropist
I like to help people even though it gives me bad karma for some reason. If a man is a philanthropist in any way, then he's got a great chance. I like a man who cares.

Smile
If his face lights up when he smiles, I'm lost for good. Even better? If he can make me smile just by being himself.

Danger
Who doesn't like a bad boy persona? But, don't actually be a bad boy. Just look like one ;)

That's about all I can think of right now. Of course, put all of that together with an awesome personality, and I'd be head over heels for him ;)

Let me know in the comments your weaknesses in a man (or woman) :)

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Get To Know Me :)

Basics...

Birth name: Arianne Cruz

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Eye/Hair Color: both Dark Brown

Sweats or Jeans: Jeans

Phone or Camera: Smartphone because it’s both

Health freak: Yeah, nice try…

Do you have a crush on someone: Yeah.. incredibly infatuated I'd say...

Favorites…

Drink: Water, Mango Smoothie

Food: Fish: Catfish ; Meat: Chicken ; Sushi, chocolates, Shrimp chips

Flower: Lilies, peonies, tulips

Colors: Pink and purple, sometimes black

Have You Ever…

Been in an airplane: Only once

Been in a relationship: Only once

Been in a fist fight: Does stage combat count? J

Wanted to smack someone upside the head: Of course

Eaten a whole pizza: Not unless it is a single-person pizza

Pretended to be happy: Yes, I’m an actor, right?

Met someone who changed your life: My aunt and uncle

Tried something you normally wouldn’t try and liked it: Sensual scene on stage

Cried over the silliest thing: You mean, like a cheesy movie? Heck yeah.

Ran a mile: I can’t even run a whole lap

Stayed single a whole year: It’s been almost 3 years. Go single ladies!

Opposite Sex…

Lips or Eyes: I prefer eyes. They catch my attention first

Shorter or taller: Taller. That’s not hard to find since I’m usually shortest out of everyone

Romantic or Spontaneous: Romantically spontaneous :) If they surprise me in a good way, then I like it

Hook up or relationship: I would say relationship, but who knows. There’s always a first for everything.

Looks or personality: Looks catches my attention, but personality wins me over.

Truthfully…

Is there one person you want to be with right now?

            Just to hang out? Yeah, there’s one. To be in a relationship with, No.

Do you know who your real friends are?

            I know one that will always be there for me. The rest are variables.

Anything else you'd like to know? Leave it in the comments or just email me :)

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Passion, Music, Fashion, Great Friends

For the first time in years, I made my way to Los Angeles for pure pleasure. The result? A great time with friends, a new appreciation for music, and a renewed inspiration to continue dreaming no matter what the circumstances.

Me and my friends ended up in the Santa Monica Promenade. As always, it was filled with all kinds of beautiful stores and performers in the middle of the street. Usually, I don't even pay attention to such things. However, lately I've developed a new sense of appreciation for people's craft.

What's even better than witnessing people's talents? Witnessing people's reaction to that talent. Watching the man in the video below gave me such satisfaction that I otherwise would not have obtained if I'd stayed home and worked all day. As cheesy as it sounds, in that man's face, I saw the reason why they call Los Angeles the land of dreams. He inspired me to keep on going even when it gets hard sometimes. Being able to touch one person out of millions is worth the effort any day.

After all of that, we went on to pursue our mission: Find the perfect nude heels. We searched high and low, from one end of the promenade to the other. Alas, my destiny was in a place called Bloomingdale's. At first look, it was small. How could it possibly have what I was looking for? Aha! There it was, along with a good-looking salesman, my baby.

After that wonderful find, we walked to the Santa Monica pier and saw more people sharing their talents with the world. You don't see that in San Diego. I suggested to one of my friends that we should start a revolution. We shall start the same passion we found in Santa Monica and bring it back to San Diego. Whether we would actually make it happen is yet to be determined. When we do, best believe we will document it!

Finally, on our way back to the parking lot, we decided to make one last stop... at H&M. It's like a cursed store. I cannot enter and leave without buying something. Yep, I got another piece of clothing to add to my new wardrobe. I'm enjoying revamping my closet!

We made it home around 10pm; exhausted but extremely satisfied. Until next time.... :)

best roommate I've ever had :)

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Promo: Eighty Eight Keys by Catherine Lavender

Eighty-Eight Keys
by Catherine Lavender
New Adult Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Published by Whimsical Publications LLC
Release Date: January 28, 2013
Heat Level: Sweet
Word Count: 54,000 

Available at…Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/279687 

Blurb

Leah is a young woman who is trying to break free from a strict religious background and pursue her dream as a pianist in the world of show business. While trying to find her independence her heart is held captive by Jason Rowe a local basketball star who established an organization to help troubled youth. When Jason is found murdered in his home, Leah is determined to get answers from a closed investigation. During her state of emotional turmoil, Leah finds comfort not only in the melody of her music, but in the arms of a married man named Calvin. With her dreams at her fingertips, Leah is tangled in a web of lies and deceit. Despite the fear of learning the truth, Leah has to realize that only the truth can set her free.

A dead lover, with a trail of broken hearts…

A married man, with a double-life…

A dream chaser, with a killer at her heels…

A piano, with eighty-eight keys…

EXCERPT

The jarring ring of the telephone pulled Leah back into the present. It took her a couple of rings to find the buried cell phone. “Hello?”

“Hey, Leah, it’s Quincy. I was just calling to check up on you.”

She settled back into a small section of the couch. “Hi, Quincy. I’m doing okay.”

“You sure?” She could hear the concern in his voice. “You sound a little sad.”

The picture of her and Jason crumpled in her fist. “Well, you know how it is. I’m surrounded by ghosts at every turn.” Her inner voice urged her to change the subject quickly. “How are you doing?”

“Well, that kind of brings me to the second purpose of this call. Would you mind coming in this afternoon? There is still so much to do for the gala, and we can use all the help we can get.”

Leah looked at her watch, then at the mess in her living room. “Yep, I can be there in a couple of hours.”

Saying her goodbyes, Leah hung up the phone and made a mental note to pick up, packing boxes along the way. When her lease was up, she was moving to her neon oasis—Las Vegas. Leah was going to be a pianist.

Running thirty minutes late, Leah pulled into the parking lot of Bright Horizons Youth Group. She didn’t see Mrs. Turner and Rosa until she almost collided into them.

“Oh, oops, sorry,” Leah said, fumbling with her purse and notebook. “I, um, didn’t see you there.” The look on Rosa’s face was pure anger.

“Well, we are certainly glad you’re here,” Mrs. Turner said with an airy smile. “There is just so much that needs to be done, and well, it is your business to know how to do this.”

Leah smiled, situating her purse on her shoulder, and avoided eye contact with Rosa in case one of the thousand daggers thrown from her eyes would penetrate. “You know, I am just happy to help,” she said to the older woman. Leah cringed at the overly eager sound of her own voice.

“And we are so glad you are helping, swallowing your pride for the good of Bright Horizons.” Mrs. Turner wore her Armani dress like it was a second skin, her makeup and hair flawless as always. Her smile was etched, and didn’t quite spread to the rest of her face.

“I don’t understand why…” Rosa said. Her hostility spoke volumes.

Leah braced herself for a very vocal confrontation.

“No, dear.” Mrs. Turner put a beautifully manicured hand on Rosa’s forearm. “You don’t understand, and you never will if you don’t check your attitude.”

A car horn caused all three women to look around. “Ah, that’s for me.” Mrs. Turner pulled a sheet of paper from her book, not acknowledging the impatient student honking.

Leah didn’t want to know why the University’s current basketball star was sitting in Mrs. Turner’s car.

“If you both will excuse me, I have more important mat-ters to attend to.” She handed Leah a long list, “Be a dear and see if you can crank this out.”

The two women eyed each other warily.

Rosa brushed past Leah. “Don’t you dare screw this up,” she hissed.

“Why would you think that?” Leah usually kept to herself as far as Rosawas concerned, but the implication bothered her.

Rosa slid on a pair of sunglasses. “Because you screw everything up.”

About the Author

Catherine Lavender is from Baltimore, Marylandbut now resides in Tampa, Florida with her miniature schnauzer name Ripken. She is an animal activist, as well as a supporter of the organization First Book which helps supply literature for underprivileged children. In her spare time, Catherine enjoys reading classic literature and playing the acoustic guitar.

Connect with Catherine Lavender:

http://www.catherinelavender.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catherine-Lavender/186543831472093

https://twitter.com/Lavenderpages

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6912159.Catherine_Lavender

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